The Secret Daughter: A Beautiful Novel of Adoption, Heartbreak and a Mother's Love

As I saw my newborn baby’s face for the first time, I tried desperately to capture her face in my mind - to stamp it onto my eyelids. As she was taken from me, I knew I might never see my daughter again. Thirty-seven years later... 'You were adopted'. Three short words and Sabina’s life fractures. There would forever be a before those words and an after. Pregnant with her own child, Sabina can’t understand how a mother could abandon her daughter or why her parents have kept the past a secret.

Sister of Mine: A Novel

When two Union soldiers stumble onto a plantation in northern Georgia on a warm May day in 1864, the last thing they expect is to see the Union flag flying high - or to be greeted by a group of freed slaves and their Jewish mistress. Little do they know that this place has an unusual history. Twelve years prior, Adelaide Mannheim - daughter of Mordecai, the only Jewish planter in the county - was given her own maid, a young slave named Rachel. The two became friends, and soon they discovered a secret.

The House by the Lake

Anna is content with her well-ordered life in San Francisco. But her world is turned upside down when her beloved grandfather, Max, reveals a startling secret: Anna is part of an aristocratic family who lost everything during World War II. What's more, Max was forced to leave behind a precious item over 70 years ago in their estate in old Prussia. It's now his ardent wish that Anna retrieve it.

Summer of the Loon

Ali Jenson's life changed forever the moment her mother died. The 16-year-old was suddenly swept away from the life she knew in California to live with her estranged grandfather in the deep woods of northern Minnesota. Ali's life has never been easy, but it seems her grandfather is trying his best to make it even more difficult. Her only hope is to get through the summer and her last year of high school so she can return to her old life in California.

Ashes of Life

Married for just three months, Alex Barrett is stunned when her husband, David, dies in a tragic accident. And the absolute last thing the pregnant young widow wants is to take on responsibility for his teenage daughter, Maddie. Reeling from loss, Alex struggles to deal with her grief and her troubled stepdaughter, but one question haunts her: why was David with his ex-wife when he died?

Motherhood: Lost and Found

Ann Campanella, a freelance writer and horsewoman, returns to North Carolina after a several year absence. In her midthirties and ready to start a family, she is used to setting goals and accomplishing them. But when Ann experiences a series of miscarriages at the same time her mother shows signs of Alzheimer's, she plunges into an emotional journey that leads her to a deeper understanding of herself and what it means to love.

The Bridge Club

The Bridge Club reminds us of the complexities of women's friendships through an entertaining and often moving tale of eight women whose lives intersect once a month initially to play the game of bridge. What began as one night turns into four decades that span the segments of a woman's journey from youthful optimism to embracing the challenges and opportunities presented in life's later years.

A Baby's Cry

What could cause a mother to believe that giving away her newborn baby is her only option? Cathy Glass is about to find out. From author of Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Damaged comes a harrowing and moving memoir about tiny Harrison, left in Cathy's care, and the potentially fatal family secret of his beginnings. When Cathy is first asked to foster one-day old Harrison her only concern is if she will remember how to look after a baby.

Rescuing Finley: Forever Home Series, Book 1

Amy Wallace has made plenty of mistakes in her young life, but she didn't see this one coming. Chris Seger is a marine serving in Afghanistan. His life is forever altered by a single, fateful step. A mother of another Afghan war vet suffers a devastating loss, which changes the course of Finley's life for good. Finley is a mostly golden retriever, who suddenly finds himself alone and confused in a dog shelter. Later, he's brought to a local prison to be trained in a special program for female inmates.

An Absent Mind

Seventy-one and a man used to controlling those around him, Saul finds himself slipping into what he describes as his slow dance with death. His ramblings, humor, emotions, lucid moments, and confusion are laid bare as well as the thoughts and feelings of his loved ones: his wife, Monique, conflicted and depressed, caring yet angry; his daughter, Florence, compassionate yet proper and reserved; his son, Joey, self-centered and narcissistic, seemingly indifferent to his family's challenges.

Closing the Gap

They say you can never go home again. Danielle wishes it was true. When Danielle left Tipples Gap years ago, she vowed she would never return. But now, with the decades-old underground coal fire threatening to destroy her hometown, Danielle must go home to accomplish the impossible. Her mother, a hoarder who cannot bear to leave her precious belongings behind, has to move before her house burns down. Danielle is the only one who can make her do it.

The Taste of Air

A simple phone call disrupts Nell Williams's well-ordered life. Her mother, Mary, is in a hospital in Vermont. But her mother is supposed to be safely tucked away in an assisted-living facility in Massachusetts, so Nell can't fathom why she would be so far from home. After notifying her sister, Bridget, Nell hops on a plane and rushes to her mother's side. There, she discovers that her mother has been living a second life.

Ditch Flowers

A baby. Just holding one sets Julia's heart thumping. She's wanted a child for so long. When she finally gets pregnant, she's bursting to tell the world...until a checkup from the doctor confirms a miscarriage.

Pieces of My Mother: A Memoir

One summer, Melissa Cistaro's mother drove off without explanation. Devastated, Melissa and her brothers were left to pick up the pieces, always tormented by the thought: Why did their mother abandon them?

The Thing Is

Ever since the death of her fiance, Meredith Mancuso has shrunk from the world. Even with her successful writing career, she's not motivated to work. When her sister, Monica, begs for a favor, Meredith wants nothing more than to say no. But she's ultimately roped into pet-sitting an orphaned Yorkshire terrier named Prozac. Blessed with spiritual wisdom and a high IQ, Prozac is an active pet-therapy dog. To heal broken-hearted Meredith, he rallies his fan club at Evergreen Gardens.

Swim Season

Sometimes winning is everything. Champion swimmer Aerin Keane is ready to give up her dreams of college swimming and a shot at the Olympics. As she starts senior year in her third high school, Aerin's determined to leave her family troubles behind and be like all the other girls at Two Rivers. She's got a new image and a new attitude. She doesn't want to win anymore. She's swimming for fun, no longer the freak who wins every race, every title, only to find herself alone.

Come Away with Me

One minute Tegan Lawson has everything she could hope for: an adoring husband, Gabe, and a baby on the way. The next a patch of black ice causes a devastating accident that will change her life in ways she never could have imagined. Tegan is consumed by grief - not to mention her anger toward Gabe, who was driving on the night of the crash. But just when she thinks she's hit rock bottom, Gabe reminds her of their Jar of Spontaneity, a collection of their dream destinations and experiences, and so begins an adventure of a lifetime.

The Daddy Pact: The Coach's Boys Series, Book 1

She never imagined she'd be widowed before the honeymoon was over. After being raised in the foster care system, meeting and marrying the love of her life was a dream come true for Jess Bentley. For the first time in her memory, she would have a family of her own. But the dream turns into a nightmare when a drug-crazed thief shoots and kills her husband, leaving Jess alone again, trapped in the depths of despair, and struggling to find a reason to go on.

Publisher's Summary

What if, after a lifetime of marriage, the person who knew you best and loved you most forgot your face, and couldn't remember your name? A nursing facility is everyone's solution for what to do about Sara, but her husband, Jack, can't bear to live without her. He is committed to saving his marriage, his wife, and their life together from the devastation of Alzheimer's disease. He and Sara retired years ago to the house of their dreams, and operated it as a Cape Cod bed and breakfast named Blue Hydrangeas.

Jack has made an impossible promise: He and Sara will stay together in their beautiful home no matter what the disease brings. However, after nine years of selfless caregiving, complicated by her progressing Alzheimer's and his own failing heart, he finally admits he can no longer care for her at home.

With reluctance, he arranges to admit her to an assisted living facility. But, on the day of admission, Sara is having one of her few good days, and he is unable to follow through. Instead, he takes them on an impulsive journey to confront their past and reclaim their future. In the end, he realizes that staying together at any cost is what truly matters.

What made the experience of listening to Blue Hydrangeas the most enjoyable?

Narrator Elinor Bell tells this story with a delicate balance of compassion, realism and objectivity that enables the listener to empathize with Jack and Sara without getting bogged down in the horrific devastation wrought on those faced with Alzheimer's. My father was diagnosed with AD in his early 50s and lived with the diagnosis for 18 years. Knowing firsthand how painful AD can be, I was almost reluctant to experience this story. While there are sharp emotional moments that triggered my own grief and loss, the narrator's gentle but honest style kept me moving forward with the story. Readers who have experienced AD will be reminded of the strength, hope and love that enables them (us) to cope with Alzheimer's.

What did you like best about this story?

Author Marrianne Sciucco's portrayal of Sara is true to life - The angry outbursts directed toward Jack, her fear, her confusion, the rare "good days". Sara is not depicted as good or bad or even a victim; she is just a person affected by a disease that impacts not only cognitive abilities, but emotions and behavior.

Any additional comments?

There are no easy answers when it comes to dealing with Alzheimer's. Different families have different needs and resources that result in different decisions for each. Blue Hydrangeas is a compassionate and honest portrayal of how AD impacts couples, families and friends. While there is no miracle cure or miraculous healing (although I found myself wishing something like this would happen for Jack and Sara), this story captures the power of real-life love, hope and courage.<br/><br/>This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com.

I was curious about this book since I have experience working with Alzhiemer’s patients. I was wondering how accurate the author would portray the disease and wondered how the story was going to go. When I started listening, I was not prepared for the emotions that this book was going to draw out of me. It was so heartwrenching and emotional that I was taken aback. This is such a beautiful love story that really shows what true love is all about. The unconditional, undying, and unrelenting type of love that everyone always dreams of is the type of love that this story has. It is so touching that I cried “ugly tears” several times during this book. I absolutely loved it! Ms. Sciucco portrayed the disease, the person afflicted, and the family of the afflicted so well that I felt like I truly knew these people. It was great. I don’t think that anyone can write a better book that shows what all a family goes through when someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The only thing that I wish was done in the book is if the narrator were to have shown emotion consistently. There were chunks of the book where the narrator showed so much emotion, I wondered if she were crying while reading. Then there were chunks where it was literally like she was sitting there reading the book aloud; no emotion, no variations, just sitting there and reading a book aloud. That alone is what made this a 4 STAR book for me, instead of a 5 star.

I really wanted to like this sweet romance more than I actually did. It's a good read, and has some lovely characters. I just wanted it to have a bit more depth and less predictability. Overall, a pleasing afternoon read. The narration was very well-done.

Blue Hydrangeas is a beautiful and emotional love story. Marianne Sciucoo wrote this sweet book about an elderly man whose wife has Alzheimers. Wanting to care for her at home, but finally realizing that after a while he can't, is heartbreaking for him. Ms. Sciucco portrays this disease in a very realistic manner. Its such a sad disease,and sometimes you see the person that you used to see and you want to hold on to that brief moment in time. This heartfelt story needs to be read by everyone that knows someone with Alzheimers. Elinor Bell did an amazing job narrating this book, giving such emotion to the words. I look forward to more books by both the author and the narrator.

I was given this audio book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

"Blue Hydrangeas" was a beautiful story about a horrible disease and undying love. Sara had been having early signs of Alzheimer's and thought it was old age-itis. She knew she'd been forgetting things even before Jack knew what was happening to her. They were together their whole lives and he became her care-giver.

Although Jack's health was wavering, he still took care of Sara. She was the love of his life. The stress began to take a toll on him but he didn't want her in a care facility. Through the turmoil, they found a way to work things out so they could remain together forever but this audiobook brings up an important topic. Alzheimer's disease. This is an ugly thing that comes and steals your life away. I'm so glad this book was written. I love that Sara painted and the tie-in with the title of the blue hydrangeas. Just lovely.

I think there can never be enough discussion and research done on this. I thank Marianne Sciucco for writing this and I love her writing period. She's a wonderful author. This is a must listen for everyone in my opinion.

Elinor Bell did an awesome job narrating this book. Her voice was amazing with perfect inflections. You could hear the emotion in her tone as well. I know how heartfelt this book was and she really pulled that together. Wonderful book from author and narrator.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

This is the story of a couple who love each other.They learn the woman has Alzhiemers. A promise is made to always stay together...but is that possible.Narrated with much feeling by Elinor Bell,we come to understand just how hard it is to live and cope with someone with this illness from inside the family.I found the story riveting and realistic.A good read.<br/>"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast or MalarHouse dot com"<br/>

Wow...This is such an incredible book. I lost my mother in April 2014 to Alzheimers. This book does an exceptional job of portraying, not only what the caregivers go through with this stupid disease, but what the 'diagnosee' is going through as well. The confusion, the fear, the denial, the paranoia. The struggle for caregivers to try to keep the promises that they made to their loved one and the shame (maybe shame isn't the right word), but the desire to hide what's going on from everyone on the outside because you know your loved one would be horrified. The terror you see on their face when you know that they realize what's happening to them and there's nothing that can be done to stop it. The pain when that person no longer knows who you are. The relief when the disease progresses to the point where they no longer realize that they have Alzheimers - so at least you don't have to see that struggle and pain in their eyes and soul anymore.

This is the story of a elderly couple in love, that are bound and determined to stay in their home, stay together, kiss each other good night, wake up next to each other every morning, while they try to navigate this disease. We experience this disease through the eyes of Sara and her husband Jack, but also through the eyes of friends, neighbors, children and grandchildren.

This is a poignant story about the tragic disease called Alzheimers filled with love and loss and it is spot on!

Just fabulous!

That is all.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

WHAT IT'S ABOUTWhat if the person who knew you best and loved you most forgot your face, and couldn’t remember your name? A nursing facility is everyone's solution for what to do about Sara, but her husband, Jack, can't bear to live without her. He is committed to saving his marriage, his wife, and their life together from the devastation of Alzheimer’s disease. He and Sara retired years ago to the house of their dreams, and operated it as a Cape Cod bed and breakfast named Blue Hydrangeas. Jack has made an impossible promise: He and Sara will stay together in their beautiful home no matter what the disease brings. However, after nine years of selfless caregiving, complicated by her progressing Alzheimer’s and his own failing heart, he finally admits he can no longer care for her at home. With reluctance, he arranges to admit her to an assisted living facility. But, on the day of admission, Sara is having one of her few good days, and he is unable to follow through. Instead, he takes them on an impulsive journey to confront their past and reclaim their future. In the end, he realizes that staying together at any cost is what truly matters.

MY TAKEI'll rate this 4 1/2 and round it up to 5 stars.

This is a gentle, tender story of an elderly couple facing the monster that is Alzheimers. The book is filled with flashbacks that are interspersed with the current day story, when Jack is finally faced with the reality that he cannot continue to care for his beloved wife by himself--it's literally killing him.

Through those flashbacks, the reader is able to see the woman Sara had been and understand why Jack worked so hard to convince himself that he could cling to their old way of life. But Alzheimers is a terrible disease that steals away not just the memories of the loved one with it but the person they used to be, all while letting slip in little glimmers of that loved one. Just to enough to tease that she was really still in there. Somewhere.

It's a scary tale for me because my husband's father and several of his aunts and uncle have had Alzheimers. I could be in Jack's position some day. I learned a lot from the story, things I didn't know before, but the "education" I received helped me to understand the disease better. Now I can only pray I won't have to use it first hand.

What made the experience of listening to Blue Hydrangeas the most enjoyable?

Blue Hydrangeas is beautifully crafted. The setting was scenic, the pacing perfect, the story poignant. It perfectly describes the unfolding, discovery, and progression of the disease along with its myriad challenges and issues, yet leaves the reader with a sense of hope and a belief in the enduring power of love.

What other book might you compare Blue Hydrangeas to and why?

Still Time by Maria Hoagland and Still Alice by Lisa Genova

What about Elinor Bell’s performance did you like?

Her performance is heartfelt, but honestly, a little too slow. The good thing is that with Audible, we can set the speed at a pace perfect for each listener.

If you could sum up Blue Hydrangeas in three words, what would they be?

Sad, Beautiful, Heartbreaking

What other book might you compare Blue Hydrangeas to, and why?

Any which deals with impossible true situations.

What about Elinor Bell’s performance did you like?

Excellent. She brought alive the story as a whole and portrayed the emotion very well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Coming to terms with the truth.

Any additional comments?

A beautiful and well written story of a couple faced with Alzheimer's - a cruel and debilitating brain disease. <br/><br/>This is by no means a soppy love story but one of courage and strength and heartbreakingly honest in the way it deals with those tangle emotions.<br/><br/>I actually won this story as an audiobook and will be posting a review for that too - extremely well narrated.<br/><br/>Not wanting to give spoilers, this is a wonderful, insightful and, yes, I will say it again, beautiful story everyone should read /listen.<br/><br/>Highly recommended.

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